Brace



R. W. SHAFFER BRAGE Fil'ed March 13. 2 Sheets-'Sheet 2 body.

Patented Aug. 258, 1923.

hier? RICHARD W. SHAFER, OF EBENSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

BRACE.

Applicationfiled March 13, 1922. Serial No. 543,505.

improvements in The present invention is based on, the dis;

l covery that where a brace is constructed with a portion engaging the ,shoulder andk with connected portions `which may be strapped around the humerus, and valso if desirable around the arm below theelbow, that said brace will serve to support the arm so that `the same can be moved freely eveny though portions of the bone have ,been removed. The invention is particularly adapted as a brace for'thearm where sections of the bone have been severely weakened or removed from gun-shot wounds or the like, and is one wherein the user may freely shift his arm from place tof place which would otherwise be a physical impossibility.

In the accompanying drawings I have shownpthe preferred form of my brace, but the same is susceptible o-f many structural changes without departing from the spirit of my invention. Y

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective view showing the brace in use. Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the brace in use with the forearm portion removed. Figure 4 is a vertical section of upper portion and shoulder pad; and Figure 5 is a transverse section on line 5-5 of Figuret.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts, the numeral 1 designates a shoulder pad which is adapted to seat upon the top of the shoulder and is provided with fastening straps 2 and 3 by which the pad is firmly united to the shoulder. Mounted upon this pad is a bracket t with which a curved arm 5 is swivelly connected with the bracket by means of a ball head 6 entering a keeper 7 to other portions of thev on the bracket. This arm is capable of a material movement, and Aserves tosupport a humerus pad 9 which will be later described. The arm 5 near its lowerend is threaded at the.. `point 6 receiving a turnbuckle 7, the other end of which turnbuckl'eY i i engages a rod 8 that is connected with the humerus pad and s also threaded by which the humerus pad may be adjusted. T-his humerus pad is preferably composed of leather, is 4lined with felt, or the like, and is strapped or laced to the body of the user by lacings l0. Straps ll also project from.

the shoulder pad which may be connected means of the buckles 12 with 'the other end of the humerus pad to assist in holdingsaidV pad in position. Vhen a portion of the humerus is shot away the addition offthis pad will so strengthen the arm that the entire arm can be freely` moved, as though the bone were intact. The pad is quite tightly fastened to thearm for obvious reasons. x

The rod 8 is preferably riveted to the pad, and at its lower end is provided with a threaded interior socket 13 for a purpose which will laterv appear.

Should the arm be injured above the elbow or in the forearm rather than the hu-V merus, or if both 'the humerus or elbow 'or forearm are injured, I then couple with the rod 8 a bar member 14, which is threaded in the socketed end 13 of the rod 8, the bar member having an intermediate hinged joint 15 and an extended part 16 which is riveted to a forearm brace 17, which brace is preferably composed of leather and tightened around the forearm by lacings or the like. Vhen this forearm brace is used I also provide a second bar lwhich is similar in construction tothe bar 14 except that said bar is preferably detachably united to the humerus pad by the fastening elements 19 for the purpose of giving support to both sides of the forearm padso as to support with much strength that portion of the arm. It will be appreciated that the forearm pad 18, together with its supporting bars may be removed from the humerus pad if desirable,

this of course depending upon the part of can b e lifted and freely removed, which `movement 'would otherwise be impossible.

' Likewise when the forearm has been injured connected with the shoulder portion, and a humerus pad adapted to be fitted around the a'rni below the shoulder connected withY said arm projecting' Yfrom the shoulder pad.

2. A brace of theVv character described, comprising` ashoulder portion adapted to be clamped upon the shoulder, a pivoted arm connected with the shoulder portion, and a humerus padA adapted to be fitted around the arm below the shoulder connected with said arm projecting from the shoulder pad,

lextensions connected with the humerus'pad and a forearm pad carried by saidVY eXtensions, said extensions being` hinged intermediate their ends.V

`3. The combination with a shoulder pad adapted to be applied to overlie the shoulder of the body, and means for uniting said pad to the shoulder. a hinged' arm of substantially rigid material pivotally connected Vwith said, shoulder pad above the shoulder of the wearer, and a humerus pad adapted to be strapped around the arm.

4. The combination with a shoulder pad adapted to be mounted over the shoulder of a body, and means for uniting said pad to the shoulder, a depending arm of rigid inaterial pivotally connected with the shoulder pad, a humerus pad below the shoulder united to said arm, a pair of hinged bars united to the humerous pad, and a forearm padr connected to said bars.

5. The combination with a shoulder pad adapted to fit over a shoulder, means for attaching said pad to the shoulder, an arm pivotally mounted on said pad Y z-bove the shoulder, said arm havinga downwardly extending portion normally projecting` beyond the shoulder, a pad adapted to be attached to the human arm carried by said depending arm.

6. The combination with a shoulder pad adapted to fit over a shoulder, means for attaching said pad, to the shoulder, an arm pivotallyY mounted on said pad above the shoulder, said arm having a downwardly extending portion normally projecting beyond the shoulder, a pad adapted to be attached to the human arm carried by said depending arm, extensions connected with said dependn ing arm, and a forearm pad united to said extensions. Y

7. The combinationV with'a shoulder pad adapted to be tightly clamped overthe shoulder, of a supportingelement having a relatively straight portion anda curved upper end pivotally mountedr above Vthe shoulder to said pad, and an arm engaging pad adapted to be carriedV by said relatively straight portion of said supporting member.

In testimony whereof I ami my signature.

RICHARD W. SHAFFER. 

